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"There was no way that I thought I would be able to come here and get both those guys," said Minaya, the Mets' general manager. "I think our goals have been met."

Outside of New York, it seems almost everyone else is being cautious in a slow-moving market. With clubs concerned about the national recession and determined to keep inexpensive young talent, the winter meetings included a string of minor deals but few big ones.

"Most of it's just a big, old dance. You get some things done but not a lot," said manager Joe Maddon of the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays.

After the Yankees and Sabathia agreed Wednesday to the framework of a record $161 million, seven-year contract, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe are the top free-agent starters still searching for work.

And surprise, surprise -- the Yankees are ready to keep spending for more pitching.

"If you try to compete through monetary means, you're not going to do it," Maddon said, adding that the free spending by New York clubs doesn't surprise or bother him. "You've got to figure out another way to get it done and for us that's through execution."

Burnett could command a deal worth at least $80 million. He was told the Yankees would be prepared to give him five guaranteed years -- matching the length of Atlanta's offer.

In addition, New York general manager Brian Cashman left Las Vegas early Thursday and planned a pit stop before going home. He traveled to Texas to meet with Andy Pettitte as the Yankees try to re-sign the veteran left-hander.

Speculation had the Boston Red Sox as front-runners for free-agent slugger Mark Teixeira, thought to have received offers of about $150 million or more.